Winter weather advisory canceled after as much as 5 inches of snowfall

Scott Dance, The Baltimore Sun

1:51 p.m.: The National Weather Service has now canceled the winter weather advisory about four hours early. Light snow and flurries are possible, but no additional accumulation is expected, according to the advisory.

Drivers should still take caution on bridges and overpasses, which could remain slushy, the advisory cautions.

The latest snowfall totals reported to the weather service include 5 inches near Pimlico, in Catonsville and near Westminster. Spotters reported 5.4 inches near Columbia and 5.2 inches near Garrison.

12:23 p.m.: Snowflakes still falling are likely to have a difficult time sticking, with temperatures in the mid-30s across the region, National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Woodcock said.

But accumulations got a boost given that the snowfall started in earnest a few hours before daybreak. Forecasts of a significant snowfall earlier this month were busted in part by the strengthening intensity of the sun's rays at this time of year.

"If it falls from the sky as snow during the day in March, the odds are very great that it’s going to melt on the way down," Woodcock said.

Woodcock also pointed out that this is the latest snowfall for Baltimore in a decade, since March 30, 2003.

11:43 a.m.: Snow could continue into the afternoon for the Baltimore area, with a winter weather advisory extended to 6 p.m. for the Baltimore region and snowfall forecast totals again increased.

Another inch of snow is possible over the afternoon, with 3-5 inches forecast across greater Baltimore, according to the National Weather Service. Many areas are already at the upper end of that, with 5 inches in Westminster, 5.2 inches near Hereford, 4.7 inches near Long Green and 4.5 inches near Oella.

11:33 a.m.: Monday is the snowiest March day since March 2, 2009, and could come close to being the snowiest March 25 on record in Baltimore. The 2.1 inches measured so far at BWI Airport is also the largest of the season.

At BWI Airport, 4.7 inches were measured March 2, 2009. In March 2010, 2011 and 2012, a trace of snow fell at least once, but Monday's is the first measurable snow at the airport since then.

The record snowfall for Monday's date is 2.5 inches, set in 1933.

Without more accumulation, Monday's snow will bring the seasonal total to 6.9 inches at BWI. That is nearly four times as much as last season's 1.8 inches but well below the norm of about 18-20 inches.

10:17 a.m.: A winter weather advisory around the Washington, D.C., area has been canceled, but remains in effect for the Baltimore area until noon. The advisory is calling for 2-4 inches across the Baltimore area, up from 1-3 inches in earlier advisories.

BGE reported about 1,250 power outages across the region as of 10 a.m., most of them divided between Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City.

9:52 a.m.: Snowfall totals have surpassed 4 inches across much of the area. Totals reported to the weather service since 7 a.m. include 4 inches in Catonsville, Sykesville, Garrison and at Fort Meade, with 4.5 inches west of Eldersburg and 4.3 inches north of Columbia. Near Loch Raven Reservoir, 3.5 inches were reported.

8:41 a.m.: The Baltimore region awoke to a few inches of snow Monday morning, with a winter weather advisory in effect expanded across the area, according to the National Weather Service.

The advisory was broadened early Monday to cover all of the Baltimore region, including Anne Arundel, Howard, Carroll, Baltimore and Harford counties and Baltimore City, through noon. Snow was expected to continue through Monday morning before mixing with rain. An inch or two was expected along the Interstate 95 corridor, with 3 inches or more to the north and west.

Less than 1 percent of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. customers were without power as of 8:25 a.m., with 836 outages across the region, 541 of them in Baltimore City. BGE's outage map showed the bulk of those outages in the Glen Oaks and Hamilton Hills neighborhoods of Northeast Baltimore.

Temperatures were expected to hover in the mid- to upper-30s throughout the day, with wind chills in the upper 20s. Snow can fall despite temperatures above freezing close to the ground if it falls heavily enough and if higher layers of air are cold enough, forecasters said.

Precipitation was expected to clear out by the evening with cloudy skies and calm winds through Tuesday morning. Winds could increase and a slight chance of showers could arise Tuesday afternoon, with highs in the upper 40s and lows in the mid-30s.

Wednesday is forecast to be windy with highs in the upper 40s before temperatures reach the 50s to end the week.